42 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



constructs so many articles for which we are noted. This creates 

 for us thriving market towns wherein we can dispose of our produce 

 at remunerative prices. We are also nearer to the great markets of 

 our own country, and of Europe ; and with our newly constructed 

 Inter-State Commerce Law, — the best law Congress ever passed for 

 the farmers, — we may expect a better sale than those of more 

 distant sections. 



These are progressive times in which we live ; note the great 

 changes that have taken place in human affairs in the last few 

 decades. The world has not gone backward an iota, but forward 

 with gigantic strides tar outstripping all previous generations. The 

 improvements in railroads and telegraph; the telephone, electricity 

 also for light and motive power ; the various applications of steam 

 for commercial, business and domestic purposes ; the subtle develop- 

 ment of chemistry and the hundreds of conditions and questions of 

 the day are the result of one word, education, and herein is New 

 Elngland's superiority ; she stands in the front rank to-day as an 

 educator of her people. Her school laws although not perfection, 

 are really unsurpassed, her common schools are everywhere, and 

 her colleges and univt-rsities are the foremost of any this side of the 

 Atlantic. Our farm life gets the benefit of these ; our homes show 

 the influence of what we might term living in an educated atmos- 

 phere ; our children show it, and they grow up with all of the 

 advantages which education both direct aud indirect confer. 



The same can be said with legard to religious advantages. It 

 makes no difference what our own opinions ma}' be, whether we 

 would be ruled by presbytery and synod, by priest or bishop, or 

 act independently, believe in sprinkling or immersion, falling from 

 giace or in kn iron clad conversion, or in none of them ; all think- 

 ing people will admit that there is a subtle power in religion, what- 

 ever its form may be. that carries its advocates towards a higher and 

 better life, and that a religious communit}' is the safest and most 

 satisfactory one to dwell in. Compare New England with the rest 

 of our countr}' for my application. 



Another of the advantages of eastern life is its society. 8haks- 

 peare, that great delineator of the human mind, says: "'Society is 

 the happiness of life," and Bacon truly places the unsocial man when 

 he sa3S, "It is most true that a natural and secret hatred and aversion 

 towards society, in any man hath somewhat of the savage beast." 

 Undoubtedly a love of society is the outgrowth of civilization. Cul- 



